Francesco Hair Salon, a family-led salon group with humble beginnings, opens its 38th salon on the picturesque village of Lilliput in Dorset. If this doesn’t demonstrate what comes from hard work and dedication, we don’t know what does. Today we know the Francesco company as delivering great, often award-winning hair nationally, with a strong education offering. But let’s take it back to the beginning and look at the back story.
Francesco Hair Salon history
It all started when founder Francesco, known affectionately as Frank, discovered a passion for fashion and hairdressing at age 15. Frank says he found inspiration in the legendary Vidal Sassoon; who can blame him? Frank opened his first salon in England in 1968, bringing his brother Pete along for the ride, and look where he is now!
We’ve known the company as Francesco group for many years, but now it’s rebranded as Francesco Hair Salon. This is a full-scale rebrand and the focus is on placing customers at the heart of everything they do. The Lilliput salon is the first to bear the new name, signaling a fresh chapter in the group’s journey.
Frank’s family originated in Italy but when he was young, they moved to England. After beginning his hairdressing career, Frank returned to Italy in 1965 to work in his cousin Mario’s salon. After 3 months Frank returned to England and soon after, decided he wanted a salon of his own.
Here begins a beautiful family-led history, going from Frank’s humble beginnings in Italy to partnering with his brother, Pete, to the growth under his son, Ben. Not forgetting the invaluable contributions of daughter Mia and her cousin Anya. Each family member now is a name in their own right – this is a journey of passion and dedication for all concerned.
Counting 38 salons across the UK and especially in the Midlands and south west England, Frank himself still shows a strong love of hairdressing and dedication to his work. With a hard-won reputation for award-winning and trend-setting work, Francesco Hair Salon is a group known for quality customer service and is a big part of our hairdressing heritage.
The academy
Francesco Hair Salon isn’t just about creating beautiful hair; it’s about nurturing the next generation of hair professionals. There are around 250 apprentices across its academies; that’s a lot of learning! The Poole Academy, in the Southwest, is a hub for future professionals completing their Hair Professional qualifications. This contributes to the influx of quality employees in approximately 70 salons throughout Dorset and Hampshire.
Rebranding for a customer-centric future
Francesco Hair Salon recently underwent a full-scale rebrand, placing customers at the heart of everything they do. The Lilliput salon is the first to bear the new name, signaling a fresh chapter in the Group’s journey.
It’s clear the Francesco group has good taste. Charlene Malcolm, hairstylist at Francesco Group, shared her favoruite look from the 2021 Met Gala. Click here to see what it was.
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